Flying Dash Flat On Churchill Dirt; Derby Doubtful
April 22, 2002
By, Jill Byrne

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 22, 2002) - The morning action is heating up at Churchill Downs, as several Kentucky Derby (GI) contenders were out for exercise on a cold and blustery late April day.

I was not impressed with most of workouts that I saw this morning, though I was not surprised, as most of the horses that breezed today don't have a strong chance of winning the Derby, in my opinion. The track was on the slow side from strong Sunday (April 21) evening storms that forced the maintenance crew to keep the surface sealed tight before harrowing it open well before training hours.

Desperado Stable's Easy Grades worked seven furlongs with Jorge Chavez up in a pedestrian 1:29. The time was not overly important to me, but the gelding did not get over the surface with any strength and did not pick up the pace when asked by Chavez.

Flying Dash (Ger) certainly proved to me and to his trainer, Neil Drysdale, that he will remain on the turf, as he did not work well over the main track going six furlongs in 1:15 1/5, and working very hard to post that time. "I've got to talk to Mr. Sekiguchi, but I'd recommend that he stay on the grass," said Drysdale. "This morning solidified it." Drysdale was unsure if Flying Dash (Ger) would be pointed toward the Crown Royal American Turf (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day (May 3).

Lusty Latin was a bit more enthusiastic going a half-mile in :49 1/5 relatively well. He is a flashy looking gray with long reaching action; he was travelling comfortably throughout the breeze. He appears a bit one-paced in the way he travels, which showed in the way he finished evenly for third in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) against a slow final eighth.

Trainer Steve Assmussen had both his Derby contenders - Private Emblem and Windward Passage - out for half-mile breezes with jockey Donnie Meche up on both horses before the track renovation break.

Windward Passage did not look comfortable in his move, leaving the pole slowly and going the first quarter the same way. Assistant trainer Scott Blasi was on the pony at the eighth- pole near where I was watching the drill, and he motioned to Meche to pick up the pace. The son of Captain Bodgit did not level out when asked and did not gallop out well either. Churchill clockers caught his half-mile drill in :50 flat with his first quarter in :24.80. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.40.

Private Emblem, an impressive winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII), actually worked a half-mile in :51.40 - a slower time than his stablemate - but he looked much smoother doing it. This was the best work I saw today in that he was well in hand throughout the drill; Meche never asked him to run, and the colt looked comfortable gliding over the surface. This horse also looks well in his coat and is carrying good condition. He will bear close watching the next 12 days to make sure he continues to maintain the same form or even move forward in his training as he looks to be a viable longshot that could get a piece of the Derby purse.

Jill Byrne serves as an analyst for TVG's award-winning "The Works" program, which focuses on the morning workout activity of horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby (GI) and Breeders' Cup. Additionally, she is a handicapper for the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN) and is a knowledgeable, hands-on horsewoman who assisted her husband, trainer Patrick Byrne, in the development of Eclipse champions Favorite Trick and Countess Diana. She is the daughter of noted show horse rider and Thoroughbred trainer Peter Howe and first started riding show horses in her native Virginia at age three; she got on her first Thoroughbred when she was 11. She went to the University of Virginia where she studied political science and has worked directly with Dosage guru Steven Roman identifying top quality horses through a race analysis system he developed. Jill and Patrick have a daughter, Devon, and reside in Louisville.

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